flood in Lagos

Whoa!!! This year, the rain has come down in full force. ITS been raining since February and it looks like this year the floods will be uncontrollable because of roads construction and re-construction of canals all over Lagos.
At the beginning of the year, we made up our mind to send our tenant packing after leaving for Jos and leaving the wife behind who was not ready to pay for services enjoyed in the compound. Even the rent was not paid and electricity bill was not paid either. Unfortunately, we were sharing the electricity bill payment with them so we had to be paying for them. We called the husband who unfortunately had some issues with the her and he did not respond. We had no choice than to ask hem to leave. The guy sent his brothers to come here and pack his things when the wife was at work. The wife called me to stop them but i advised her to talk to her husband. The people that came to pack their belongings were her in laws and I know they wouldn't come without being authorised by her husband. Finally, that was sorted out and all except her kitchen utensils were moved out. Eventually she came to move her kitchen stuffs out. At last the apartment was vacant and we decided to renovate before letting it out. The flat was in a terrible state.
It was in this process of renovation that the torrential rainfall of Wednesday June 22 2011 came.
THE rain started early in our area. In fact in all areas in Lagos it started early. it was only those who left home early for work that were lucky. Those who left late had to contend with the traffic jam while others were stranded at the bus stops. The rain came in torrents and the whole area was flooded.
We all know in Lagos that the rainy season comes with flooding, traffic jam and long waits at bus stops but the rain of few days ago was much more than anticipated. It was really bad to the extent most people did not go to work. I couldn't. My street was so flooded that cars were covered. The few people that dared to walk through the flood were covered to the waist. It rained almost throughout the day because the rain came intermittently from dawn to dusk.
We in Lagos know that the rainy season comes with inconveniences and sometimes nightmares. Most Lagosians would wish it does not rain in Lagos at all. But that is not possible. Whether it is rain or sunshine, there is time for everything. There is a season for everything and God decides that and no man can stop any of the season from coming to pass.
That Wednesday all of Lekki,, Orile Iganmu, Iju, Surulere, Mile two, and Ikeja were almost submerged by flood. Owode Onirin area area on the way to Ikorodu was another story. Every year that area is always overtaken by flood. So the Lagos State Government had advised residents to move out from that area. But most of them claimed getting accommodation elsewhere cost so much so relocation was not an issue to be considered. Last year they were forced to relocate to the camp provided by the government.
In our area it was the blocked canal due to its recontruction that caused it. We have pleaded with the government to ask the contractors to open up the canal so easy flow of water